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Cardiac Catheterization & Stenting

Heart Checkups in LA County

A cardiac catheterization (cardiac cath) procedure is used to examine your
heart and check for damage and signs of heart disease. These are very
common, safe procedures for patients who have recently experienced a cardiac
event or suffer from chest pains.

During a cardiac cath, a doctor can:

Check pressure in the heart valves

See how your heart is pumping

Take a tissue sample from the heart

Take blood samples and measure oxygen levels

Look for visible muscle and tissue damage

Look for blood clots and narrowed blood vessels

What to Expect

This is a form of surgery, and it is natural to feel nervous, but you can
take comfort in knowing that these are very safe procedures with minimal
risk. When you arrive at the hospital for the procedure, someone will
measure your blood pressure and check your pulse. A sedative will be administered
through an IV, but you will remain awake during the procedure. The doctor
may even have you view the heart through a monitor connected to the catheter's
camera, which many patients find helpful. A small puncture is made in
the skin and a blood vessel through which the catheter is inserted. The
doctor guides the catheter to the heart, examines the area, and performs
further procedures as needed.

Stenting

The catheter used during a cardiac cath may be outfitted with various instruments
so that the doctor can treat certain conditions discovered during the
operation. One of the most common cardiac procedures is called stenting.

Stents are often used to treat:

Coronary artery disease

Aneurysms

Carotid artery disease

Blood clots

Atherosclerosis

Your blood vessels need to stay wide open for blood to efficiently travel
to and from the heart. Cholesterol, high blood pressure, and fat can build
up a substance referred to as arterial plaque that lines the arteries
and narrows blood vessels. Stenting is a treatment for this condition
wherein a small, mesh tube is placed in the vessel to widen it. Stenting
can be done on its own or placed after an angioplasty, which is a procedure
that removes plaque or forces the vessel to widen before it is then held
in place with the stent.

After the Procedure

When the cardiac cath and stenting is finished, you are usually free to
return home unless the doctor finds something that requires immediate
attention. The procedure is minimally invasive, meaning you should be
able to resume normal activities without a lengthy recovery. Be sure to
keep an eye on the area the doctor punctured in case it starts to bleed
or tingle. Though rare, call your doctor if you notice any irregularities.

Methodist Hospital of Southern California offers cardiac catheterization
and stenting in our state-of-the-art cardiology department. Our Heart
Care program is acknowledged as a Center of Excellence by the American
Heart Association.

For more information on our Cardiology Program, contact our team directly
at 626-898-8845.